VCC Showcase

There are a lot of talented folks here in Country Creek. The Villager would like to help you get to know them. Over the next few months TheVillager will include a section in which to introduce those talents to the community. Watch for “VCC Showcase!”

Glen Culbertson

Glen Culbertson has been a Florida resident since 1990. He is originally from Bourbon County, KY and for the last 14 years has been married to Barbara, a Florida native. His career as a scientist with the Cleveland Clinic in the area of pathology and cancer research included degrees in medical technology and health care administration. Glen has always wanted to become a writer, and over the years he has worked on various forms of writing, mostly as a poet and essayist. He pays close attention to his surroundings, finding that often a word or phrase spoken in his vicinity will spark an idea that he can turn into a piece of writing. In his words, he “grasps the moment.” His poetry and essays have been published frequently in newspapers and online. You may have read some of them at recent Veterans Day celebrations here at Country Creek. This month The Villager offers a few others for your reading enjoyment.

Handprints

Glen A. Culbertson

Every time my grandchildren come to visit, they leave behind a mess. Displaced toys, legos, blocks and more are discovered everywhere for months after they’ve gone back to their own realm of perpetual broken toys, lost puzzle pieces, ignored stuffed animals and general disinterest in any play item more than a week old.

There is absolutely no aggravation in the discovery of those temporarily lost fun things the grandkids misplaced in my home. It’s merely a gentle reminder that my life is fulfilled by the awesome giggles, simplicity and innocence of a child. Allow them to be such.

The numerous handprints found on the windowpanes and glass doors leading outside are left there as long as possible representing their presence and the love we have for them.

This doesn’t infer that they get away with everything, though. Yes, they get away with much, but those are my choices, whether their actions are truly worthy of potential correction or reprimand. Primarily, I need to remember that I was once a child, breaking things, making mistakes, being and saying foolish things.

And then, life becomes more ordered, more shaped and controlled by society and expectations. I suppose we grow up! But, who really wants to? Why leave such a glorious childhood behind where there are no responsibilities, no job, no worries, no fears?

The only relatively close proximity to rediscovering our childhood and the simple and capricious nature therein is to see and feel, vicariously, through the eyes, joy, laughter and hugs of your grandchildren.

And when they’ve left again, leave the handprints on the glass. The love you recapture, each time you see them, reignites that firestorm of affection only a grandparent can feel for their grandchildren.

Leave the handprints there.

GAC

4/16/25

A Soldier’s Honor

I’ve served for and with great men, The vast majority braver than I, Without hesitation to go to war, Along side these soldiers, I chose to die.

We left our loved ones behind this day, So you, with yours, could stay, No guarantee that we would return, So our children, together, could play.

Considered our prime American duty, To defend and protect our shores, Many are called upon to serve, To safe-keep you and yours.

Marching off to war without fear, And knowing I’m offering my life, Is of paramount import to me, My country honor’s my sacrifice.

So many never saw home again, Scars seared deeply in the ones that did, All in effort to simply live in peace, Hatred and evil, we fight to rid.

All veterans stand tall and strong, Those of us left, young or old, Deserving of your love and respect, For going to war, facing horrors untold.

You won’t hear us brag about our time, That we served in far away lands, We simply want to live a normal life, Reassured that America still stands.

GAC 10/7/24

When will we begin to appreciate all that has been given to us?